Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has won the coveted Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline Middle-East and Africa categories in the AirlineRatings.com 2015 Airline Excellence Awards. The airline was also ranked in second position in the world's top 10.
AirlineRatings.com, the world's only comprehensive safety and product rating portal, celebrates and promotes excellence in the airline industry. The pinnacle of these efforts is its annual Airline Excellence Awards, which are decided by AirlineRatings.com's editorial team.
In announcing the awards, the editors praised Etihad Airways for the industry leading innovation that has resulted in exceptional performance in market position, customer service, financial performance, fiscal management and operational safety.
Geoffrey Thomas, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher of AirlineRatings.com, said, "Etihad Airways' commitment to excellence appears to know no bounds. The airline's new First Class and Business Class offerings are breathtaking and have set a new benchmark in luxury travel.
"In its first 11 years Etihad Airways has stamped itself not only as a major force in the airline industry but as a trendsetter – an incredible achievement.
"Etihad Airways has an uncompromising attitude to excellence. For the airline only the best will do." James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, said, "We are incredibly pleased and proud to receive the 2015 AirlineRatings.com awards for Best First Class and Best Long Haul Airline in the Middle East and Africa, and to have been placed second in the world's top 10. The wins cap off another successful year – not just in terms of the number of awards and accolades we have received, but also for the way in which our ground breaking innovation in product and service has made headlines on all six continents and elevated the Etihad Airways brand into the global consciousness." "In recognising the top priority we place on safety and sustainable financial performance, these awards also validate our game-changing business strategy," he added.
Today's AirlineRatings.com awards add to an impressive list of accolades the airline has received in 2014. These include the CAPA Airline of the Year Award for strategic leadership in the aviation industry; Society of British and International Design (SBID) Awards for industry-leading cabin design for the new First Apartments on its Airbus A380; Airline of the Year, Cargo Operator of the Year (Commercial Airline) and MRO Service Provider of the Year at the Middle East Aviation Business Awards 2014; Payload Asia magazine's Rising Star Carrier of the Year for its Etihad Cargo division; Employer of the Year at the Middle East HR Excellence Awards 2014; Best Up In The Air Experience award at Future Travel Experience Awards 2014; Airline of the Year - First Class at the 13th Annual China Travel & Meeting Industry Awards 2014; Sustainability & Environment Award at Ireland's inaugural Aviation Industry Awards 2014; and Middle East's Leading Airline, the Middle East's Leading Airline – First Class and the Middle East's Leading Cabin Crew at the World Travel Awards Middle East 2014.
Source: WAM